NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Eric Adams defended his position on deporting criminal noncitizens in a sweeping statement on Tuesday, asserting his commitment to protecting New Yorkers while openly challenging critics to “cancel” him if they disagreed with his approach.
In comments that ranged from crime policy to political history, Adams clarified that his focus was on individuals who commit violent or harmful acts, not on the broader migrant community. “Those who are here committing crimes—robberies, shooting at police officers, raping innocent people—have been a harm to our country,” Adams said, emphasizing his zero-tolerance policy for criminal activity among undocumented individuals.
The mayor signaled his willingness to work with federal officials to develop a strategy for removing those who pose a threat to public safety, including sitting down with the Biden administration’s border czar. “I want to sit down and hit a plan on how we’re going to address them. Those are the people I am talking about,” he added.
Adams also pointed to past comments by prominent Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, to reinforce his stance, noting their similar positions on deporting individuals who commit crimes. “Google what they said about those who commit crimes in our country—they said those who commit crimes need to get out right away,” he said.
Addressing potential backlash, Adams expressed defiance toward what he described as “cancel culture,” stating, “Cancel me because I’m going to protect the people of this city.” He warned that his administration would not tolerate those who harm “innocent New Yorkers and innocent migrants and asylum seekers.”
Adams’ remarks come as New York City continues to grapple with the ongoing migrant crisis and rising public safety concerns, positioning the mayor at the intersection of immigration policy and criminal justice debates.
